okay wait that last post really had me thinking about… sokka who has never once made mai laugh. ever. he tries everything. all of his best jokes, impressions, prop comedy, pretending to make momo talk. she’s never even cracked a smile. and yeah he mostly finds it annoying/ it makes him a little insecure (“suki you think i’m funny right?” “sokka i love you but if you don’t shut the fuck up and go to sleep-”) but as time goes on it turns into more of “oh shit, my best friend’s girlfriend actually hates me”
and this goes on for YEARS until he finally brings it up with zuko, who’s just like “what? of course mai thinks you’re funny” and sokka’s just like “… what” and zuko’s like “yeah everytime you two spend time together she always comes back and tells me every single joke you made, she thinks you’re hilarious” and sokka’s like “… fucking WHAT” and then he’s like “but?? she’s never laughed?? or even smiled?? she just gets this look on her face and she raises an eyebrow-” and zuko’s like “you got her to raise an eyebrow????? dude that’s her version of crying with laughter, in fact as my best friend i actually need you to stop being so funny around my girlfriend bc she might leave me if you don’t”
Sokka: –and then I said, ‘that’s no turtle duck!’
Mai, not looking up from her tea: Mm.
*later*
Sokka: And then you know what she did? She just hummed! She didn’t even look up from her tea! Suki she hates me.
Suki: Why would she ask to have tea with you if she hates you?
Sokka: Because her boyfriend is my best friend and she needs to keep a good relationship? Or maybe so she could make fun of me to her cool friends? I don’t know!
*later still*
Suki: Yeah Sokka’s pretty torn up about the whole thing. He said she didn’t even look up from her book, she just hummed.
Zuko: She…hummed?
Suki: Yeah, I know, not great.
Zuko: No, Suki, you don’t understand, Mai made a sound. I’ve never heard her make a sound when someone tells a joke.
Zuko, his voice cracking: I think Mai’s in love with Sokka.